I just ordered a Governor. It has been...a real treat researching these things. Opinions ssem to vary from folks who think it's all the power of a goose gun in the palm of their hand, and the need for marksmanship has been reduced to a mere suggestion to those who swear any .410 load would merely tickle a hardened criminal, As well as those who seem to opine that a .45 Colt fired from a Model 25 is the hammer of Thor while a .45 Colt fired from a Governor is laughably weak and impotent. I'm thinkin' there are alot of folks around there wrapped around the shotgun shells and overlooking the .45 cartridges, whether in favor of or against the concept.

As for me, and what I see in it...

It's a quality double action .45 Colt or ACP with a night sight for less than $1K.

It's...really very ugly. I've always been one to gather up the waif, the stray, and the runt of the litter.

I think of it as a multi tool for the gun safe and ammo locker. I doubt it will do any particular thing well, but it should do most of what I'd like it to do acceptably.

I doubt it will ever see much in the way of a .410 shell, unless I decide to shoot at ptarmigan or porcupine within 10 feet, or decide shooting empty beer cans with it would be classier than smashing them against my forehead.

I look forward to loading up some of the Lehigh maximum expansion bullets that will only fit in the .410 revolvers. Look forward to playing with different cartridge lengths in general to see what can be squeezed out of it accuracy wise.

It seems to me a decent fishing gun. Keep it loaded with some legit .45 Colt out around people and the docks, and perhaps keep some .410 shotshells to take the fight out of the bigger, fiestier halibut we catch.

It seems much debate shrouds the shotshell revolver concept.

I believe it's true that many people buy these style guns with overly heightened expectations due to ignorance and slick salesmanship.

I think it's natural that these are not often recommended for self protection. Revolvers themselves are hardly recommended anymore, and there ain't no one standing up for an ugly, bulky revolver.

My personal protection pieces tend to be wheelguns. This one wouldn't be my first choice, but I do believe it will do it's part if I do my part.

I'm not sure if it'll be a flash in the pan, or stick around, but after reading so much passionate and vigorous debate, I figured I had to try one.

I'd love to hear y'alls thoughts and experiences!

I don’t have one, but I want one.

I want to post 15 pictures of it, and extol its virtues, and then sit back and count the harrumphs from our resident curmudgeons who still have rabbit ear antennaes with aluminum foil twisted around them on top of their TVs.

I think its a great concept, and the Governor is the best looking execution of the concept.

Please post a range report!

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Rule of law, not a man.

I love all the thought and obvious passion you’ve put in to this decision. With that right there, I’m forced to hate it less.

At this point in life with the sheer number of handguns I’ve got, I could never see myself chasing something with so many strikes against it. My list of those strikes includes that it is new/current S&W, that it’s seriously homely and for sure the one part you detailed exceptionally is a huge strike: “I doubt it will do any particular thing well“

Guilty that I took your quote a bit out of context when I clipped it. But I’d rather spend three times the dough to get three different guns that each does something well rather than buy a goof that just gives it a try.

They say a camel is a horse designed by a committee. I might substitute “Model 66” for horse and “Governor” for camel, but hey - people in the Middle East love their camels.

I know some people buy them thinking it’s a mini shotgun, then stick it in a drawer and never find out if it’s just like a shotgun or does it just tickle a bad guy. So it’s Schrodinger’s Shotgun. It simultaneously works great for defense, and doesn’t.

Curmudgeon here:

It’s too big and bulky for my purposes.

I don’t have a Governor, but I do have a Judge that was purchased befor I saw a Governor. It’s a great camp gun. In a chest rig it’s great while kayaking and canoeing in case you have a venomous serpent who gets uncomfortably close. Chipmunks around the camper won’t be chewing wires anymore. If I were in bear country (which I’m not) 45lc beats a sharp stick. And it does land the cowboy loads behind the front site reliability.
Buckshot at close range would be effective. And while at a public campground should somebody attempt a late night entry I’m not nearly as worried about blasting kids sleeping in the next camper since it’s loaded with copper plated 5 shot in this role.
I’ve wasted boxes of 410 shells trying to break clay pigeons. Only breaking a few from the first station or number seven on a skeet range. But the attempt were fun.
The Governor being able to shoot 45acp appeals to me even more.
But to tell the truth I’d really rather have one with a smooth bore and a six inch barrel, and would be more than willing to give up the ability to shoot pistol cartridges out of it. A smooth bore would make it function with shot shells way better than it does, and sure would be fun around the farm.

I think you've identified most of the pros and cons. Didn't think I'd ever own one but now wonder why I hadn't bought one years ago. For the ranch it is very hard to beat and I've tried everything else from .22LR to 44 Mags. Load three 410s and three 45 Colts and you're ready for just about anything. It's not a 10 gauge goose gun but I've killed skunks at a measured 15 yards with 7.5 shot and the 410 is much more effective than any 357/44/45 shot load.

Yes, homely and sort of big but really not all that big and at 29 ounces it weighs less than my handier 696 at 35 ounces and has one more hole in the cylinder.

Its the gun I carry almost all the time during snake season, and here in Texas it is almost always snake season. Enjoy yours.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

“I believe it's true that many people buy these style guns with overly heightened expectations due to ignorance and slick salesmanship.”

This is certainly true in our NE GA mountain community. Most every retired couple up here has a Judge or Governor-if not one of each. There is a man named James at the Ace Hardware here that sells these firearms to many a first time gun owner.

Firearms are like screwdrivers, one will not fulfill every need. People exist who think differently than I do, and thus a Judge or Governor suits their needs just fine.

I don’t find fault with my neighbor’s choices and only offer my opinion if I am asked. If asked, I do attempt to persuade them to at least broaden their search and look at other types of guns and calibers.

I never considered buying a Governor...until the day I checked out the For Sale pages here and saw one, NIB with a tritium front sight, that had just been listed for about half the MSRP at the time. I couldn't type "I'll take it!" fast enough, if only because it was such a great bargain. (Turned out the seller had won it in a raffle and didn't want it.)

I have fired only shotshells through mine. It's controllable and shoots decent groups at reasonable (across a room) ranges. I wouldn't carry it for self-defense on the street, but I think it would do fine as a home defense gun, especially in places where over-penetration through walls is a consideration.

It and the Judge are worthless noise makers..........I can load the same equivelant load in a 44 mag or 45LC hull for all the good it does.......Been there done that........I do load/shoot 410's in several shotguns. A 410 pistol is just a gimmick.

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S&W Accumulator

I too load my own shot shells for 44 Mag and 45 Colt. Many people don't reload and I think the Governor is fine for them . A shot shell out of any handgun isn't anything to write home about but I have killed copperheads around the old homeplace in MO with Speer shot capsules loaded in pistol calibers. More power to you OP and I bet you enjoy it!

I really wouldn’t have bought my Judge, but I won it at a gun raffle for 2 dollars. I keep it handy in the house for home defense and don’t believe that any intruder would laugh at 3 loads of 410 buckshot followed by 2 rounds of 45 Colt. One thing about the gun that no one seems to mention is that it has one of the nicest triggers of any gun I own,,, including my 686’s.

I've always disliked the Governor/Judge concept. They (and clones) are just too big, heavy and impractical for EDC, IMO. The ONLY purpose I can see it for is if you wanted to keep one loaded with Snake Shot and handy where poisonous snakes are an every day occurrence. Other than that - I find it sort of useless, cumbersome and would not be interested in one - but that's just me. YMMV!

You can save the pictures.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

Interesting gun , I’m glad they are available for those that want one
I’d rather have the “hammer of Thor”, the 45 colt 625 you mentioned .

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the rules? there are no rules

I won't argue with anyone's choice of gun. But for me, the Governor is one of those "Answer to a question no one asked" things. Other than being able to fire projectiles, it does nothing that a more concealable, lighter, and more accurate -- but just as powerful -- handgun could do, and it looks weird in the bargain. I have successfully avoided buying one in the past, and see no reason for that to change in the future.

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Pisgah

Seen this yesterday and didn't open it! I thought it was going to be a political thread and I did not want to see the carnage!
jcelect

I’ve had one since they came out, and they’re a right fine pistol as far as I’m concerned. There are now some very interesting SD .410 loads, and the ability to fire both .45 Colt and .45 ACP are just bonuses . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Not to argue but I'm curious, how do you get a half ounce of shot in a 45LC shot capsule? Have you compared the pattern of shot from a 44/45 four or six inch barrel with the pattern from a 2.5 inch lightly rifled Governor? The deep rifling and longer barrel in my experience spins the shot shell load and spreads rapidly. Less so in the shorter Governor with light rifling making for much tighter patterns at greater distances. As mentioned above, I've killed skunks at 15 yards with the Governor 410 loads, don't think I could do that with the 44/45 shot loads I use to use.

Another factor I think 410 loads, while more effective, are also less expensive. Certainly less expensive than the CCI factory shot loads and given the cost of capsules ($10 or so for 25) factory 410s may be less expensive than making our own 44/45 shot loads.

Just curious as to your approach.

Jeff
SWCa #1457

More thoughts as of this morning...

Some folks have posted different concerns worth considering.

As far as carry, I really don't see myself using it as a regular carry gun, unless I really fall in love with those LeHigh maximum expansion rounds, but on the overall...I'd almost be embarassed to be seen carrying one. That being said, I do consider it likely viable for concealed carry. I wore a 625 Mountain Gun (Hammer of Thor edition) daily for five years straight. Though I rarely carry it these days for various reasons, every time I strap it on, I still feel like I'm shaking hands with an old friend.

I do see this as a great truck gun (stored in a vehicle safe) for various emergencies...or emergency plinking sessions...

I totally get the folks that aren't buying the Swiss Army revolver perspective. A multi tool can skin an elk, fix a fence, adjust a carburetor, and open a can of beans, and a beer bottle at the close of the night, but it's hardly the best suited job for any of those tasks. In the meantime, the guy running miles of fencing can't be blamed for preferring his by God designated fencing pliers, and the mechanic is only sensible for wanting his authentic Snap On screwdriver, and the butcher his large fixed blade knife. Whether by necessity or preference, I understand and respect folks on the other side of that thought process.

It does occur to me that if a guy is really that hellbent to shoot ACP and Colt out of the same revolver, it's alot cheaper to just cut a 25 or 625 for moon clips, and ya' still have a pretty gun to boot.

Ugliness...Like I said earlier, I often times dig ugly and weird. But...sometimes only to a point. This one could end up being the wrong kind of ugly. I'm still debating grips and holsters. Do I try to add some pretty, or just maximize the ugly while whistling and chortling with glee? I do giggle at "REEE!!" From some folks..

Maybe I could cut it for a red dot?

I ponder the price point of these. It's the only centerfire scandium revolver I know of for under $1K. I'm almost considering the notion that the whole .410 craze has died down, and now S&W is just limping the old Z frame along at what they can get for it, while we hardly think twice about the significantly higher prices paid for a similarly equipped much more attractive 325. I've often wished S&W wasn't so hellbent to accomodate people wanting to stuff squirrel hunting rounds in a revolver and would release an unobtainium .45 Colt/ ACP.

Thankfully, snakes are hardly a blip on my radar. I long ago traded Georgia water mocassins, copperheads, and rattlers for polar, brown, and black bears. It was a darn good trade. I like to think of traveling to Arizona and Texas more. Maybe carry it down there? Not super likely, but...possible...

Speaking of bears...since it shoots .45 ACP with like...a 21,000 PSI, would it be safe to run limited .45 Colt at that? NOT the maxed out Ruger/Freedom Arms loads, just...more of a warm...a 300 grain hardcast at 900 fps or so and a seriously limited diet. At first blush, it looks like a person could get 300 grain cast to 750 or so FPS at 14K PSI, so...I think there may be room to work with that idea. On the other hand, I've been handloading for two decades without a kaboom. I'd hate to start now by pushing a questionable envelope. Also, there is POA/POI to consider with them fixed sights...

I'm curious about how the accuracy will shake out. Can I find a magic handload for it? Will there be a significant difference from other revolvers in my standing broken body and my shaking hands? We shall soon see...

Lest I be mistaken for attempting to host a treatise regarding why this is gonna be the greatest thing ever, and all doubts are simply wrong, I am an insatiable trader. This one is actually a bit impulsive for me so...I might get rid of it on day one...Or it might become a favorite. I do enjoy those times when I discover an odd purchase to be a great one.

But...I'm still willing to concede that this thing could be a really stupid idea on my behalf.

I keep mine in the nightstand loaded with a combination of Winchester PDX1 and .45 Colt HP. For range day, I'll use moon clips for .45 ACP. I changed the grip from RB to SB, which I find more comfortable. I also plugged the hole, thanks to bullseye smith.

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Inconsistently consistent

I don't own a Governor, but have been intrigued by them (more than the Judge) since their introduction. My g-grandmother would say I have "a tooth for knick-knacks".

When my brother and I hunted in MS he carried a Judge loaded with .410 #4 shot (which was all he could find) for snakes. I carried a Ruger Vaquero .45 LC with 3 rounds of my #7.5 loads in CCI capsules followed by 3 rounds of Grizzly +P 335 gr. WLNGC. At the end of one day we decided to test our snake loads at 10 ft on 1 liter pop bottles. Mine perforated the bottle. He got one hit. I donated a box of #9s to him. I expect he does better now.

He mainly uses the Judge for snake medicine while riding tractor or fishing and says it performs well in that role. It is probably more likely to be carried consistently than my Big Iron.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I had one issue with my Governor early on. I was practicing with some cheap and aged Centurion .410 birdshot shells. The recoil hammered the cartridge face back towards the recoil shield and the brass expanded between the extractor star and the shield. Could not rotate the cylinder, and could only open the cylinder by pressing it agains the shooting bench surface with purpose. All other shells have worked flawlessly . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Everyone to their own likes and dislikes. Me, personally, I would not take one as a gift. From where I sit it is a foolish answer to a foolish concept. But. That's me. You asked what I thought.

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NRA Life Member

Not to argue, just curious. Have you ever used one? I thought pretty much as you do until I bought one. Now its with me most of the time when I'm hunting or just wandering the ranch.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I don't own one, and have never shot one. But one thing's for sure, if it works and does it's job, I have nor reason to diss on it. I personally would like to stay on the shooter's end of the gun. apparently they work. I will not disrespect any gun that can make me a corpse; or another person a corpse should he/she have the same intent.

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Waiting For The Sun.

Each to his own IMHO.

Life is too short to own ugly guns.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Something to that thought I suppose but "ugly" is all in the eye of the beholder. Some of us confused folks even think these 296s have a certain beauty. . . . .

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Well dang I was hoping it might make a good rabbit gun for beagling the thickets.

Actually, I have. My best friend and permanent shooting buddy has one and he is quite fond of it. He has brought it to the range a number of times and I have tried it with a variety of ammo. Like I have said, it does zero for me. But, he likes it, and he is nobody's idiot when it comes to shootin' stuff. So, like I said, everyone has their likes and dislikes. I would never tell him that he is wrong. I just don't feel the same way that he does about that particular gun. I would never want one for anything.

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NRA Life Member

I’ve shot one that is owned by a friend. Put a B-27 silhouette target out to 7yards. Shoot it with some .410 PDX rounds. Consider over penetration issues. The target will look like it was hit with machine gun fire. The gun isn’t pretty. But my opinion is it will do it’s job at close range when defending against a snake, burglar, or small bear with a .45 Colt load. I don’t yet own one. But I never say never.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

I won’t hunt with a gun that embarrasses the dog.

Not my cuppa. But your money, your call.

What's wrong with rabbit ear antennas? They work fine for those of us with satellite TV who lose signal during a storm, or want the extra local digital channels that DirecTV doesn't have on their local channel package.

PS - we still have a land line too.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

"but hey - people in the Middle East love their camels." In the Biblical sense??

That being said I've never felt an attraction to a Governor or Judge, but enough folks do to keep them in production so there is a demand out there. I am a diehard revolver guy (no "wheelgun" terminology for me) and have many different frame sizes, capacities, and brands. But none pretending to be a shotgun!!

I despise shot capsules. I use cardboard wads cut with an arch punch. A cardboard wad tamped down on a 4-5 gr powder charge leaves LOTS of room for shot. Then I tamp down a cardboard wad on top and seal with airplane glue...........I do the same thing with .38 spl's to shoot carpenter bees.

410 buckshot OOOB is about .365 in. in diameter. So it raddles down a 45 cal barrel......Same with a 410 slug undersized so it to rattles down a 45. cal barrel. Accuracy is dismal and so is penetration. And 3/4 of an inch free bore with the 45 LC is horrible to accuracy too. A standared 38 spl outruns it. So I stick to my original thought......It's neither fish nor fowl.

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S&W Accumulator

I’ve got a buddy that has one, and I fired a few cylinders through it.

Didn’t float my boat, but if you like it …

You must have some serious carpenter bees, I use CCI 22LR shot shells. It’s actually a lot of fun to load up my Bearcat with shot shells and pop carpenter bees trying to destroy my deck.

I’ve had one since they first came out. The owner of a shop where I used to do a lot of business sold me one at cost because he knew I would actually shoot it and figure it out. He just wanted to get a good shake down and review before he ordered a bunch for inventory.

I’ve shot mine a lot, and I mean a lot with all of the various loads made for these. With the proper load this is a great tool for whatever job you need.
The defense loads are no joke. At self defense distance they would be deadly. Mine shoots 45 ACP better than a 325 night guard I had and will run right with my 625 out to about 30 yards. It shoots the 45 Colt just as good. It does seem to have a preference for mid range cowboy loads. For small critters I use #6 for rabbits and squirrels out to about 10 yards. I use #9 skeet shells for chipmunks around the barn foundation. I don’t have dangerous snakes but the #9 skeet loads would be great for that.

I carry mine when bow hunting. My concern is coyotes and my Governor has put hole in several. What I like is that I can index my loads. I keep a buckshot as the first one up. Second is a 45Colt. I can cock and lower the hammer quietly and cock again for a longer shot. Again choose the tool for the job.

Even in 2022 it is probably not safe yet.

This is only personal opinion, but outside of recognizing the .410/.45 revolvers as the novelty gimmicks that they are I don't see a valid use for the awkward, ungainly things.

I want to keep the .410 shell where they belong, in suitable conventional shotguns and .45 Colt is better served up in proper revolvers rather than some clumsy, one-size-fits-all aberration.

I've killed as many poisonous snakes as anyone and have never wanted any handgun shot shell load for the task. Plain ol' .22 Long Rifle, .38 Special, or 12 gauge shotguns have served fine, or else more often than not, a handy rock, branch, shovel, or hoe have sufficed. I've been taking out snakes all of my life, both as a kid back at home or else on a really snaky family property of large acreage on a lake here in Texas and have yet to utilize a handgun with a shot load for the purpose.

A .410/.45 Colt revolver for fun and frolic? Yeah, but as a handgun for any serious purpose? Just ... nope!

Yep. use to use .22 shot. But they got expensive. I can load .38's cheaper.

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S&W Accumulator

If we can Talk Governor, I guess we can talk Judge.
Recently had Lunch, saw a new to me Pawnshop nearby.
Walk-in, start looking at the Guns.
What-what is that?
It’s a Circuit Judge. Ain’t you ever seen one?
You need to get out more!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Now you done did it.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

I've never had a need for such a weapon.Personally I think its profile resembles a flare gun missing the bright orange color.

Now.........THAT MADE BUST OUT LAUGHING.......Thanks!

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S&W Accumulator

My item of covetousness arrived today. Fit, finish, and timing were all really excellent. Single action trigger is great, double action is very smooth, but unusually heavy. Easy enough to straighten out, I suppose.

It actually feels very nice in my hand. Far better than I expected. Rubber grips were real decent, but...I figured this thing needs all the help it can get in the aesthetic department.

I'll do a real review for whomever may be interested in a week or two.

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I had a snicker while considering your excellent post #20.

You detail very well the things a swiss army knife can do, but how it’s not a great choice for any of those tasks. You then point out that the Governor is homely and you admit that you like the odd and possibly ugly.

That’s where I chuckled! Compared to a Chiappa Rhino, Taurus Poly Judge or Nighthawk’s horrendous treatment to their imported Korth revolvers, the poor Governor cannot even get a podium spot on the bat-guano ugly contest! Another swiss army knife tool… it cannot even do UGLY well enough to hang with the real dogs!

I laughed at them to. But got to looking for a small 410 double to put in my side by side because the places I hunt have lots of stupid grouse and pheasants that would taste good. Had not found a decent deal on what I had in mind, when I walked into a pawn shop and saw a 6" barreled Judge with a 3" cylinder for a pretty low price. I asked for best deal and they said $365. After some waffling on my part I bought it only to discover 410 shells of any kind are presently like hens teeth.

Never ever leaving well enough alone and having experience with the poor performance of low capacity shot capsules in revolver round spinning down a rifled bore to leave a group with a big hole in the middle, I decided to make what I wanted. First I bought a 3" Judge barrel off Ebay for $50. Then I ran a .452 reamer down it to make it '"gasp" a smooth bore. But, I was not finished, then I took a file about 1/8" thick and cut it so it would slip down the barrel and used the good edge to file in 4 grooves at a very slight angle from forcing cone to muzzle so that it had very slow twist shallow rifling. There is zero law on how fast the twist needs to be or how deep the rifling has to be or how tight the projectile have to fit the bore. None, zero zip. Then I installed my 1 in 50" twist rifled barrel on the Judge frame making it a more reasonable length for a handgun.

Using 7 1/2 shot 2 1/2 shells at 20 yards it kept most of the pellets inside a 24" circle on a large piece of cardboard backed by an old OSB board target stand and I could easily see where the shot went through the old OSB

I have no doubt that it will kill birds at 20 yards especially using 3" shells once I can find some. When I do I will buy about 500 and call it good.

I have zero interest in firing 45 colts though it as I have a large selection of those. I also have no interest in firing buck shot in it. At the ranges that 000 shot would be very lethal if you missed with a 45 you would be very likely to miss or do little damage with the buckshot.

Mine is for shooting bird for the camp pot.

I can simply step away from any snake a lot faster than I can draw a gun and shoot it. They are not fast except when they strike and if they do strike and you within their range, it will be over way faster than you can even pull the trigger let alone draw.

I've never owned one of the Judge type handguns but have shot a number of them.
Interesting revolvers, but to me not worth my purchasing one.
I don't feel the draw to them as others do.,,and that's OK. Everyone has different views, likes and dislikes.
I never owned a Glock,,never personally owned a Winchester Model 12 either.
But they make/made a lot of them Someone bought them!

I do have a couple of Win42's and reload for those.
So I do appreciate the empty black 410 hulls at the pistol range left behind by the Judge shooters.
Yes they reload just fine and Star crimp beautifully by just running them thru the MEC Jr.

I've thought about loading some more shot loads for 45Colt or 44.
But never really got back into it.
Haven't seen a snake around (the type that crawls on the ground) in a long time around here. So the need for a 'snake gun' isn't there.
For the other type(s), I'd rather have something more suitible.

Well, I'm partial to my Governor, it's a rock steady, hands on, truck/night stand gun at 7 yards no matter what I've run through it. Any more than 7 yards, well I've enough others to take care of things. A solid piece and a nice addition to my collection.